With health care organizations under increasing pressure to reduce costs, one area that is worth examination is scheduling and logistics. Ensuring that appointments are handled as efficiently as...

According to an article recently published by the BBC, a study conducted by the University of Exeter has revealed that patients who see the same doctor have lower death rates. The BBC writes...

Strategic planning is very important for a wide variety of organizations. Being able to chart the direction for an organization and decide how to allocate resources for the future is a critical...

Previous articles on this blog have given an overview of how SCF transformed its system upon taking responsibility for primary care for the Alaska Native community in southern Alaska. Before,...

Engaging customers is critically important in health care. SCF works to engage individuals and families through our relationship-based Nuka System of Care, with providers forming strong,...

SCF undertook a major study on relationship-based care. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether customer-owners who are empanelled (chose to be assigned) to a primary care provider...

Excerpt from SCF’s 30-year Report Southcentral Foundation (SCF) recognizes that health care is about people and relationships. Alaska Native people have always lived life in “community,”...

Excerpt from Southcentral Foundation’s 30-year Report Southcentral Foundation’s (SCF) arrangements with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to take over the entire primary care system in 1998, and...

“Treat every customer-owner like your auntie.” The words of Ileen Sylvester, Southcentral Foundation’s Vice President of Executive and Tribal Services, resonate with many SCF employees. These...

If you have ever visited or received services at SCF you’ve probably seen or heard the term “customer-owner.” SCF uses this term to describe the 65,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people...